New Waterford manager Michael Ryan says the Allianz Hurling League will offer little time for teams to bed in.
Ryan says that counties must hit the ground running if they are to achieve their goals, while the reduction in number of teams in the top flight means that there will be absolutely no margin for error.
“Under the old system there were seven games and it was possible to blood players, but now you're under pressure to win so you'll find that counties are fielding their strongest teams on a regular basis,” Ryan was quoted as saying in the Irish Independent.
"There'll probably be less room for experimentation and that's a pity in a way.
"What I would say about it is, by the time it's over, every one of the six managers in Division One will have a fair idea what talent they have available and where they stand with regard to their players.
"It will be a quick learning process. It is going to be difficult and at least one high-profile county is going to be relegated. That's the nature of it and the system is there.
"But we have no input into the system, so we just have to get on with it."
Ryan added that Eoin Kelly can still get back into his panel after being excluded, but the regular Deise talisman needs to get fit enough to be included if he wants to hurl for his county once more.